Christopher Reeve - Biography

Last Editor: Elizabethsplace				Christopher Reeve Biography -   Name : Christopher Reeve Profession : Actor Height : 6' 4" (1.93 m) Nickname : Chris Toph (nickname as a child) Personal quotes : "Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean." "What makes Superman a hero is not that he has p Salary : Superman (1978) $250,000 Spouse : Dana Reeve (April 1992 - 10 October 2004) (his death) 1 child

Christopher Reeve Trivia -

Paralyzed in a horse riding accident near Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. [27 May 1995] Children, with Gae Exton: Matthew (b. 1979) and Alexandra (b. 1982). Son, with Dana Reeve: Will Reeve (b. 1992). Was a licensed pilot. Attended Cornell University, where he lived in Risley Hall, as a member of the class of 1974, leaving for Juilliard after his junior year. Broke his leg after falling out of his wheelchair during a workout. [August 2000] Turned down the lead role in American Gigolo (1980). Gained 30 pounds for the role of Superman. Wrote an autobiography, "Still Me." The book was a bestseller, and he was working on another book at the time of his death. Was offered numerous roles, such as the lead in The Running Man (1987) (which went to Arnold Schwarzenegger). He turned down these roles to take on more challenging ones. He and his wife opened the first center in the United States devoted to teaching paralyzed people to live more independently, in Short Hills, New Jersey, May 3, 2002. Known as the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center, the facility operates a website, publishes new "Paralysis Resource Guide," and houses the largest U.S. collection of paralysis-related publications. The Reeve Family Foundation has also distributed grants to paralysis researchers totalling some $22 million. One of the last characters that he played before his riding accident was a paralyzed individual, in the film Above Suspicion (1995). Attended the Supergirl (1984) premiere with Helen Slater. Ironically, at the time he was paralyzed he had been doing a film on horse back riding safety. Jane Seymour's son was named after him. Hal Ketchum's "Hang in there Superman" was written about him. Said he based his portrayal of Clark Kent in the "Superman" films on a younger Cary Grant. He is the tallest out of the five actors who have played Superman (the others being Kirk Alyn, George Reeves, Dean Cain, Tom Welling and Brandon Routh. Turned down the role of Fletcher Christian in The Bounty (1984). Turned down the lead role in Body Heat (1981). Son of F.D. Reeve. Turned down two films that later went to Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Running Man (1987) and Total Recall (1990). Was offered, but declined, the role of Mason Verger in Hannibal (2001). The role was eventually given to Gary Oldman. Died at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York, after suffering heart failure while being treated for a severely infected pressure wound (which are common among paralyzed people). Brother: Benjamin Reeve (b. 1953). Half-brothers: Jeff Johnson and Kevin Johnson. Relationship with Gae Exton, mother of his two oldest children (1977-1987). Said that after he was paralyzed, it was his wife's support that kept him from chosing death over living on a respirator. In 1976, turned down the role of Mark Harris in Man from Atlantis (1977) (TV). Roommates with Robin Williams at Juilliard. They remained close friends for the remainder of his life. After the critical and box office failure of Superman III (1983), he was reluctant to do a fourth Superman film, especially if it was going to be treated as a farce. He eventually agreed to do the fourth Superman film when the producers promised him story input and that they would finance a long time pet project of his, the gritty crime drama _Street Smart (1987)_ , where he played an amoral reporter. His long time friend Robin Williams helped pay his medical bills during his final years. Turned down the role of Jack T. Colton in Romancing the Stone (1984). The part eventually went to Michael Douglas, who also served as one of the film's producers. His weight trainer for Superman (1978) was British weight lifting champion David Prowse, who played Darth Vader in Star Wars (1977), Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). Along with Margot Kidder, Jackie Cooper and Marc McClure, he is one of only four actors to appear in all four "Superman" films. His friend, Jane Seymour, used to call him "Bigfoot". After he died a number of political cartoons drawn to commemorate his death were Superman themed. Many artists drew a picture of of Reeve as Superman flying away from the wheelchair. In one picture, Superman came to Reeve's grave with flowers. In another picture, a grief stricken Superman reads the news of Reeve's death in the Daily Planet newspaper and says to the reader "He was my hero." In another picture, Wolverine, Spider-Man and Batman come to Reeve's grave with Batman commenting "He really was a super man." In another picture, a young boy in a wheelchair tells the reader: "He was the Man of Steel. He had incredible vision. He used his powers to save people. Nothing could stop him. And I think before that he acted in some Superman movies." Some pictures depicted Reeve arriving in heaven, dressed as Superman in one in which he says to Gabriel "You can keep the wings." and in another dressed as a regular angel he also declines the wings by saying "No thanks, I'd rather walk." Took some criticism for his portrayal of Clark Kent (Superman's alter ego) as a weak, bumbling nerd. This characterization (which he said was based on a younger Cary Grant), in Reeve's opinion, was necessary because he felt that there had to be some kind of a difference between Superman and Clark Kent, otherwise "it's just the same guy in glasses". At the time of his death, he had regained partial movement in his fingers and toes, and said he could feel a pin prick anywhere on his body as well as differentiate hot and cold temperatures. Starred opposite Michael Keaton in Speechless (1994). Keaton and Reeve portrayed DC Comics two most iconic characters, Batman and Superman, respectively. The character he portrayed on "Smallville" (2001), Dr. Swann, was named after longtime Superman artist Curt Swann. Made his Broadway debut starring opposite Katharine Hepburn in a production of "A Matter of Gravity" in 1976. Hepburn became very fond of him, both as an actor and as a person, and teased him that he would take care of her when she retired. Ironically, Reeve's reply was "Miss Hepburn, I don't think I'll live that long". He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters after his death by Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey in New Brunsick on May 18, 2005. Was posthumously awarded an honorary degree at Stony Brook University's commencement on May 20, 2005. His doctor of humane letters degree was accepted by a graduate student whose own struggle with paralysis was the subject of a 2004 TV movie directed by Reeve. Attended Julliard with actor Kevin Conroy, who later went on to provide the voice of Batman for the animated Bruce W. Timm series. Was slated to direct a fifth Superman film featuring a new actor in the lead role if the fourth film was successful. The fourth film did poorly at the box office however and the fifth film never materialized. His Doctor of Humane Letters degree was accepted by Stony Brook graduate student Brooke Ellison, whose life and struggle against paralysis was the subject of a made-for-TV movie directed by the late actor just before his death in 2004. His last theatrical film, John Carpenter's remake of Village of the Damned (1995), paired him with Mark Hamill, who provided the voice of the Joker on "Batman" (1992). The "Smallville" (2001) episode "Thirst" was dedicated to his memory, with the caption at the end of the credits reading: "He made us believe a man could fly". A picture of him as Superman appears at the end credits of _National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)_ . Wore nearly 25 different Superman costumes for the first Superman film, some of which were specifically for walking, and others that were for flying, and some of which were turquoise for blue screen shots (in order to balance out the blue of the uniform). He was distinguished in January of 2004 by the Chilean Government for his humanitarian work, with the Bernardo O'Higgins Order, by the Chilean chancellor in his home in New York He went to Chile in 1987 during the military dictatorship to support about 80 Chileans artists (actors and directors) threatened with death by dictatorship security organisations. A Superbowl XXXIV commercial for a medical company that took place in the future portrayed Christopher as being able to walk (via computer animation). However, the company was flooded with phone calls the next day asking how they cured him. Did not receive top billing in a Superman film until Superman III (1983). As a relatively unknown actor at the time, he was given third billing under Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman in the first Superman film, then given second billing under Gene Hackman in the second Superman film before achieving top billing for the third and fourth Superman films. Was a fan of "Law & Order" (1990). He claimed that watching it helped him through his psychical therapy. Robin Williams dedicated his Cecil B. Demille lifetime achievement award to Reeve. Was only 24 years old when he was cast by Richard Donner in 'Superman the Movie', making him the youngest actor ever to play the part of Superman.

Christopher Reeve Detailed Biography -

Born September 25, 1952 New York City Died October 10, 2004 Mount Kisco, New York Christopher Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, director, producer and writer renowned for his film portrayal of Superman/Kal-El/Clark Kent in four films from 1978-1987. In 1995, Reeve was rendered a quadriplegic during an equestrian competition and was confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. He became a spokesman for disabled people and a vocal supporter of stem cell research. He died on October 10, 2004 after suffering cardiac arrest. As Superman. Reeve was born in New York City to writer Franklin Reeve and journalist Barbara Johnson. Reeve graduated from Princeton Day School in Princeton, New Jersey. He attended Cornell University as a member of the class of 1974, but left before earning his degree and began studying at the Juilliard Drama School under John Houseman. While at Juilliard, he became friends with Robin Williams, as well as with Kevin Conroy (who would later be the voice actor for the animated Batman television series). Reeve's first big break as an actor came in 1975 when he was selected to co-star opposite Katharine Hepburn in the Broadway play A Matter Of Gravity. Reeve stayed with the play throughout its year-long run and was given very favorable reviews. He and Hepburn became very close and stayed in contact until her death in 2003. A romance was rumored, but Reeve laughed it off saying, "That was wild, that thought. She was 66 and I was 22. But that, you know, that could be fun." He did admit to having a boyhood crush on her. "When I was a kid I would have crossed the country on my hands and knees just to say hi." Reeve credited the legendary actress with giving him many valuable lessons on acting. Hepburn in turn praised her young co-star. She predicted great things for him and joked that he would "support me in my old age." Reeve is reported to have joked back, "I don't think I'll live that long Miss Hepburn." Reeve continued to work on the stage, as well as on the soap opera Love of Life. His first role in a Hollywood film was a small part as a submarine officer in the disaster movie Gray Lady Down in 1977. Superman With his stunning good looks and tall stature at 6'4", Reeve is said to have drawn eyes when walking into auditions. This paid off when he beat out thousands of others for the role of Superman in the 1978 film directed by Richard Donner. This film was an enormous success and inspired three sequels. Coincidentally, Christopher Reeve's good friend Robin Williams also became a star that same year with the television show Mork & Mindy. Contrary to myth, Christopher Reeve is not related to George Reeves, who played Superman on television in the 1950s. George Reeves' real name was, in fact, George Brewer, and the similarity in their names is only coincidental. Although he was certainly tall enough for the role, Reeve's build was decidedly unmuscular, and he began a training regimen under former British weightlifting champion Dave Prowse, who, a short time later, would gain fame as the man who would give physical form to Darth Vader in George Lucas' immensely popular Star Wars films. Reeve had a driver who was paid to take him to the gym no matter how much he cursed and resisted. The training regimen consisted of several hours at the gym every day, and eating two of everything; two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. Reeve put on 30 pounds of muscle to his thin 180 lbs frame, and put on even more for Superman III. Once he reached the peak of his bulk, he decided to put more emphasis on cardiovascular workouts and became leaner. Superman was the kind of part Reeve usually disdained. He once said, "I want to challenge myself in my roles, not run around on screen with a machine gun." However, Reeve did find that he could play the character with depth and challenge himself with the role. He said that there had to be something more to the Clark Kent character, otherwise you just had a "pair of glasses standing in for a character." Christopher Reeve essentially redefined Superman, no small feat considering what a global icon the character was and still is. To this day, people see Superman in Christopher Reeve. After leaving the role, he was reportedly greeted and called Superman by those who recognized him in public, but he good naturedly accepted the association and acknowledged it as his most famous role. Additionally, many who knew him found that his real life personality closely matched Superman's, in that he was a genuinely kind, friendly man who was very down to Earth and easy going. After Superman In 1980, Reeve co-starred with Jane Seymour in Somewhere in Time, a time travel romance. Although this film was not popular at the time it was released, it has since inspired a wide "cult" following. Seymour thought so highly of Reeve that she named one of her children after him. In 1984, Reeve won critical acclaim for his role as a 19th century southern lawyer in The Bostonians. He often said this was the best movie role of his career. It was immediately afterwards that he scored another triumph on the stage. This time it was on a London stage. Reeve had always been fond of England and jumped at the chance to co-star with his friend Vanessa Redgrave in The Aspen Papers which was an adaptation of a Henry James novel. Critics were astounded by his performance and headlines blurted "Superman can act!" In 1987 he travelled to Chile, at that time under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, to stand in solidarity with several dozen actors and writers who had been threatened with death for their left wing views. In the same year, Superman IV: The Quest For Peace was released. Reeve helped write the screenplay because he wanted to send a powerful message about world peace. The plot focused on Superman ridding the world of nuclear weapons. Superman IV was a box office failure and Reeve jokingly recommended that people skip it and only watch the first two movies and maybe the third. Also in 1987, Reeve starred in the gritty Street Smart as a reporter who falsified a story about a pimp. Morgan Freeman won an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actor for his role as the pimp "Fast Black". Reeve's performance was dismissed by the critics; one even mocked, "Look up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane... it's Newsman!" In 1988, Reeve co-starred with Burt Reynolds and Kathleen Turner, in the comedy Switching Channels. This was a modern day remake of the 1930s stageplay The Front Page and also provided a rare comedic role for Reeve. However, the movie flopped at the box office and Reeve was unable to land a major film role for the next four years. Reeve was able to again showcase his comedic talents alongside all-star comedy veterans Carol Burnett, Marilu Henner, and John Ritter in 1992's Noises Off, a slapstick film version of the Michael Frayn stage play of the same name. The film also reteamed him with Deathtrap co-star Michael Caine. In his career, he was offered many roles such as Richard Gere's role in American Gigolo and Arnold Schwarzenegger's role in The Running Man, but he declined in favor of more meaningful films. Reeve had a great love for the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He served as an apprentice and on its Board of Directors. Despite becoming famous as Superman, he returned each summer until his accident. Reeve often faulted fellow actors for shunning stagework claiming they were dishonoring their craft. Reeve appeared in over 150 plays during his career. Shortly before his accident he played a paralyzed police officer in the HBO special Above Suspicion. After his accident, he would direct and star in several important movies about disabilities such as In the Gloaming and The Brooke Ellison Story. On May 27, 1995 Reeve was paralyzed from the neck down after being thrown from his horse, "Eastern Express," in a cross country riding in the Commonwealth Dressage and Combined Training Association finals at the Commonwealth Park equestrian center in Culpeper, Virginia. It was the second of three trial events in that equestrian competition. Reeve had been approaching the third of 18 jumps -- a triple-bar about 3 1/2 feet high -- on the course when his horse apparently could not find the right spot to make the jump. The horse abruptly stopped, causing Reeve to "roll up the horse's neck and fall on his head on the other side of the jump," according to Monk Reynolds, the equestrian center's owner. After being thrown, he landed on his head. He was wearing a helmet and a protective vest at the time. Initially, he had no movement or spontaneous respiration. Reeve was considered an able rider and a proponent of equestrian safety and was about to pose for a safety poster sponsored by the U.S. Combined Training Association. He was confined to a wheelchair and unable to breathe, except for short periods, without the assistance of a mechanical respirator, for the remainder of his life. Later interview LETTERMAN: Tell me exactly what it is. What is broken? What happened here? REEVE: Well, I totally decimated my first cervical vertebra and my second, and so my body and my spine and my head were not connected. Only my neck muscles were holding my head on, and fortunately I didn't suffer any brain damage, at least none that I can detect. But, you know, that's what they tell me at any rate. But they literally had to put my head back on my body, and a wonderful surgeon, Dr. John Jane at the University of Virginia, was the one who operated on me, and they had to make it up. They had never done anything like this before, because this is what is called a hangman's injury, you know, like if you get dropped through the trap down and then cut down, sent to rehab and told to have a nice life. LETTERMAN: This is where, is it the brain stem comes out of the brain, and is that the beginning of the spinal cord? Is that what that is? REEVE: Yes, yes. Now, if you injure your brain stem you're in really big trouble, because you can't even move your face, but I'm what's called a C2 incomplete which means the second cervical vertebra, there's a gap between the second and the third. It's only 20 millimeters wide, and that's why I am a prime candidate for recovery when they have regeneration.